Apparatus for production of three dimensional objects by stereolithography
First Claim
1. An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object with a medium capable of a physical state alteration when subjected to prescribed stimulation, said apparatus comprising:
- a. means for providing said medium;
b. means for said physical state alteration of said medium to form a lamina integral with any previously formed laminae;
c. means for repeatedly operating (b) to form said three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae; and
d. means for reorientation of at least one of the laminae before formation of a subsequent lamina.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for generating three-dimensional objects by creating a cross-sectional pattern of the object to be formed at a selected surface of a fluid medium capable of altering its physical state in response to appropriate synergistic stimulation by impinging radiation, particle bombardment or chemical reaction, successive adjacent laminae, representing corresponding successive adjacent cross-sections of the object, being automatically formed and integrated together to provide a step-wise laminar buildup of the desired object, whereby a three-dimensional object is formed and drawn from a substantially planar surface of the fluid medium during the forming process.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object with a medium capable of a physical state alteration when subjected to prescribed stimulation, said apparatus comprising:
-
a. means for providing said medium; b. means for said physical state alteration of said medium to form a lamina integral with any previously formed laminae; c. means for repeatedly operating (b) to form said three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae; and d. means for reorientation of at least one of the laminae before formation of a subsequent lamina. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object from a plurality of successively formed laminae, said apparatus comprising:
-
a. means for providing a medium capable of a physical state alteration when subjected to prescribed stimulation; b. means connected to said apparatus for performing said physical state alteration to form said lamina of said object from said medium integral with any previously formed lamina; c. means connected to said apparatus for repeatedly operating (b) to form said three-dimensional object; and d. means for rotating at least one of the laminae before formation of a subsequent lamina, said means being connected to said apparatus and cooperative with said means for performing physical state alteration. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object with a medium capable of a physical state alteration when subjected to prescribed stimulation, said apparatus comprising:
-
a. a container for holding said medium; b. a source of said prescribed stimulation wherein a combination including the prescribed stimulation and the medium result in said physical state alteration of the medium, and wherein the altered portions of the medium form successive laminae integral with any previously formed laminae, and wherein said three-dimensional object is formed from a plurality of adhered laminae; and c. a device to reorient at least one of the laminae before formation of a subsequent laminae. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object, said apparatus comprising:
-
a. a container for holding a medium capable of a physical state alteration when subjected to prescribed stimulation; b. a source of said prescribed stimulation cooperative with said container and the medium wherein a combination including the prescribed stimulation and the medium result in said physical state alteration of the medium, and wherein the altered portions of the medium form a first lamina and successive laminae integral with any previously formed laminae, and wherein said three-dimensional object is formed from a plurality of adhered laminae; and c. a device to rotate at least one of the first lamina and/or successive laminae before formation of a subsequent lamina, the device being cooperative with the container and the source of prescribed stimulation. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object with a medium capable of solidification, said apparatus comprising:
-
a. a device to provide said medium in a fluid state; b. a computer controlled device to form successive laminae from said fluid medium; and c. a device to reorient at least one of the laminae before formation of a subsequent lamina, wherein said three-dimensional object is formed from a plurality of adhered laminae.
-
-
22. An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object, said apparatus comprising:
-
a. a device to provide a medium in a fluid state that is capable of solidification; b. a computer controlled device to form at least one lamina from said fluid medium, integral with any previously formed laminae; and c. a device to rotate at least one of the laminae before formation of a subsequent lamina, wherein said three-dimensional object is formed from a plurality of adhered laminae.
-
-
23. An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object, said apparatus comprising:
-
a. a device to provide a medium capable of an alteration when subjected to prescribed stimulation; b. a computer controlled source of said prescribed stimulation wherein a combination including the prescribed stimulation and the medium result in an alteration of the medium so as to define successive laminae; and c. a device to reorient at least one of the laminae before formation of a subsequent lamina, wherein said three-dimensional object is formed from a plurality of successive laminae.
-
-
24. An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object, said apparatus comprising:
-
a. a device to provide a medium capable of an alteration when subjected to prescribed stimulation; b. a computer controlled source of said prescribed stimulation wherein a combination including the prescribed stimulation and the medium result in said alteration of the medium so as to define a first lamina and successive laminae integral with any previously formed laminae; and c. a device to rotate at least one of the laminae before formation of a subsequent lamina, wherein said three-dimensional object is formed from a plurality of successive laminae.
-
Specification